Antall József szerk.: Orvostörténeti közlemények 89-91. (Budapest, 1980)
TANULMÁNYOK - Magyar, Imre: Belgyógyászati irányzatok Magyarországon a két világháború között (angol nyelven)
By the end of the First World War, the amazing progress of internal medicine in Hungary was promoted primarily by the activity of F. Korányi. He succeeded in developing this field of science and its practice to a level totally corresponding to the highest, i. e. European, standards. Another accounting for this was that the modern clinics constructed at the beginning of the century were in their own time not only the most up-to-date but the most beautiful ones, too, in Europe [28]. E. Jendrassik died in 1922 [29]. His department was taken over by S. Korányi whose chair was succeeded by F. Herczog having first moved from the University of Pozsony to Pécs, then to Budapest. The two departments of the inner premises were conducted by Bálint also of a European reputation, and by L. Kéthly still being in possession of his senses at that time. After Jendrassik's death —chiefly known as a neurologist but also as an excellent internist and a remarkable personality — Hungary was represented by two famous internists, S. Korányi and R. Bálint in the international medical life: Korányi with his basic research in renal pathology, and Bálint with his highly appreciated but not very lasting acid-base theory [30]. Invitations to international congresses, honorary memberships, honorary doctorates gave proof of the world-wide recognition. The members of these two departments successfully worked in the spirit of S. Korányi applying physiology and physicochemistry in internal medicine and benefiting by experimentation. Marked deterioration was not produced either by World War I since the adversaries had also failed to develop in the turbulence of war, and American science had just started to flourish. Retrogression, though only temporary, occurred rather at the beginning of the 20s. Of Horthy's Hungary —as the interwar period is usually called —we have formulated an ill opinion —and may have justly done so. This view cannot, however, be subjective enough for us to point out some features which even today can be appreciated. If only in part, I still try to form an objective opinion as related to the subject. At the beginning of the Horthy era, K. Klebelsberg, Minister of Education, had the conception that this dismembered country ravaged in the war could only be a rival to European peoples if —lacking the possibilities for industrial and economic development —it earnestly strived for intellectual production. This accounts also for the then highly condemned construction of the Dome Square in Szeged, the modern clinics, the theoretical institutes, the University town in Debrecen and of the Biological Research Institute in Tihany. As a matter of course, the relief of the mysery of the workers and peasants but, to a great extent, also of the intellectual strata at that, time —with physicians included —should —in our present view —have been given preference to. If, however, having a look at the still existing institutions of the Horthy era, the value of these establishments cannot at all be underestimated. Contradictions of this period were evident in other aspects, too. Numerus clausus and contraselection, a sufficient number of physicians, protectionism, physicians and engineers shovelling snow and, at the same time, a complete lack of medical care in the villages. Still this was the time of the activity of J. Bókay, K. Scharfer, J. Pólya, T. Verebély, E. Grósz, G. Entz, S. Korányi, F. Verzár, G. Farkas. Publications also appeared by the young Bencze, Rusznyák, Haynal, Hetényi, K. Engel, Rosenthal, Csépai, Miskolczy, Petényi, Szentgyörgyi and several other noble-minded and enlightened personalities who not only failed to support the political regime but were not once considered enemies in the right-wing Hungary. Internal medicine in Hungary was totally under the influence of S. Korányi during the First World War, and long afterwards. The more remote is his activity, the more
